Push button doll

ABSTRACT

A doll comprised of a body to which is affixed controllably movable separate limbs and a head. In the body there is disposed a spring loaded button which is accessible from the front of the doll. Means individually connect each of the limbs and head to the button so that with the button in a normal position the limbs and head are in certain positions. Upon depression of a portion of the button, there is attendant movement of the limb or limbs, or the head connected to the portion of the button depressed.

Ullfi 3tates FQQQHN n 1 Goldiarb et al.

3,724,125 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] YUSH BUTTON DOLL FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] inventors: Adolph E. Goldfa 1,764 3/1916 Netherlands l9 rb, Tarzana, Calif.; Carl Ayala, Chicago, Ill.

Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene [73] Assignee. said Goldfarb, by said Ayala Assistant Examiner D L weinhold Jan. 29, 1971 Appl. No.: 111,037

Att0rney--Sokolski & Wohlgemuth and Robert M. Ashen [22] Filed:

yl c mw m m o cm d en m fidn 830 .mmm mab dd wne mm m g m be mm fr oW 0 M nLm pbm mai ow m n vy d m Amm 900 1N2 M 1 9 A 3 6 6 m mmh c mm mmS L m m C 5m. UKF 1 2 -8 555 cessible from the front of the doll. Means individually [56] Rderences cued connect each of the limbs and head to the button so UNITED STATES PATENTS that with the button in a normal position the limbs and head are in certain positions. Upon depression of a m. 0 MP 6 mh t mm t a 6 n n mo me 0 .wm m m m tumm rp oe mi u.m b O m h tmb f e o nmfl .mfi t I 0 o Pu t 440,986 ll/l 890 Alderson 2,288,371 6/1942 Rothschild 3/1914 14 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRS I973 3.724.125

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTORS IA\ 53 HG 7 ADOLPH E. GOLDFARB CARL AYALA BY 21 G 5 5 ROBERT M. ASHEN ATTORNEY PATENTEUAPR3 ma SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. l2

FIG. ll

FIG. 9C

FIG.9D

INVENTORS ADOLPH E. GOLDFARB v CARL AYALA ROBERT M. ASHEN ATTORNEY PUSH BUTTON DOLL There have been various dolls in the past with movable arms, legs, and rotatable and movable heads. In order to accomplish this, the dolls have utilized a central body with separate limbs and head which are attached thereto through means that allow these members to rotate or move relative to the body. In one embodiment, an elastic cord in the doll body is affixed to hooks that are attached to portions of the limbs and the head which extend into the body. The elastic cord serves to assure the attachment of the head and limbs and allow for their individual rotational movement.

Additionally, various complicated mechanical devices have been disposed within the cavity of a hollow doll body and connected to the limbs and head so as to selectively actuate these elements according to controls provided on the doll body. These mechanically controlled dolls have been quite complex and readily subject to malfunction and breaking, as well as being expensive and difficult to manufacture and repair.

Another concept that has been utilized to achieve movable limbs is to have flexible wire spring elements connecting limbs to each other within a flexible doll body. Pressure on the flexible body causes movement of the arms or legs. This type of arrangement, however, does not provide for readily controllable movement since the action of the internal springs would not be readily ascertained in relation to the point on the body being depressed. Further, in such an arrangement, no means is provided for actuating or moving the head together or separate from the limbs. To date, there has been provided no doll whereby, through a simple construction, selected limbs can be either individually caused to move or to move in unison with other limbs on the body as desired, including the head.

Briefly, the herein invention is comprised of a doll having a generally hollow torso or body. Disposed within the body is a depressible button which is accessible from the front of the torso of the body. Apertures are provided in the torso corresponding to the joint for each limb and at the neck for the head. Separate limbs and the head are disposed adjacent the body at these apertures. A control string is' fixed to each limb and to the head and passes through the corresponding aperture provided in the torso to the depressible button. In one embodiment the strings are attached to the depressible button in such a manner that when the button is depressed at a point closest to a given limb, that limb will tend to relax due to a lessening of tension in the connecting control string. When the button is depressed medially between two limbs, both limbs will then be relaxed. If the button is depressed in its center then all of the limbs and head will move due to a relaxation of the tension on all of the control strings. In another'embodiment, the strings are affixed to said button such that they are relaxed in a normal position with the limbs correspondingly being relaxed. Upon depression of the button, tension is placed upon the control strings causing movement of the limbs. Thus, the effect is opposite from that of the previously described verson.

It is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description in which:

FIG. 1 is a front partial view of the doll of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view from the rear taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded pictorial view of the push button mechanism of the doll.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled push button mechanism of the doll.

FIG. 6 is a pictorial side view of a limb insert.

FIG. 7 is a top view (partially broken away) of the insert of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view through the insert of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 9A-D depict a series of steps of tying a string to a boss of the doll.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a string tied to an insert.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Turning now to FIGS. 1-3, there is seen the doll ll of this invention. The doll is comprised of a hollow torso 13 which can be formed of a molded plastic material. Attached to the torso is a separate head 15, arms 17 and 19 respectively and legs 21 and 23 respectively. Disposed at about the center of the stomach portion of the dolls torso 13 is a depressible button 25 which slightly protrudes outwardly from the torso. As will be explained, the depression of button 25 will cause movement of the limbs or head of the doll depending upon the portion of the button depressed.

The torso 13 of the doll as particularly seen in FIG. 2, is comprised of a front half 27 and a rear half 29 which are secured together along seam 37 by means of screws 31. The doll is assembled in two halves in the manner shown for ease of construction in inserting internal parts, as will be further described. The front half 27 of the doll torso has an opening 33 therethrough in which is disposed an entire button mechanism 35 for operating and containing the exposed button 25. There is additionally provided along the seam 37 between the two halves, apertures adjacent the limbs of the doll. At the top of the torso, in the neck 38 there are two side by side openings 39 and 41. At each arm attachment area there is an upper opening 43 and a lower opening 45 vertically displaced from the upper opening 43. Toward the bottom of the torso, in the area of the legs, there are corresponding spaced-apart openings 47 and 49 adjacent the attachment area for each leg.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5 particularly, there is seen the button mechanism 35 which serves to actuate the limbs and head of the doll, causing movement thereof. The mechanism 35 is comprised of a back support plate 51 which is rigidly secured to the front half 27 of the doll torso by two screws 53 (FIG. 2) passing through apertures 55 in the plate and seated within threaded holes 57 provided in the front torso half 27. Thus, plate 51 is rigidly secured within the doll body and cannot rotate or move in any manner. Plate 51 can be suitably molded out of a single piece of plastic and is formed with a raised circular center portion 58 which is surrounded by four equidistantly spaced holes 59 about its circumference.

The button mechanism 35 is also comprised of the button 25 which includes a tension plate 61 spatially disposed in front of the support plate 51. The tension plate 61 has a rearward facing surface 63 which is generally flat, having a circular center portion 65 extending rearwardly therefrom and having essentially the same outer diameter as that of the raised portion 58 ward from the doll body by the spring 67.

A front side 69 of the tension plate 61 has five equidistantly spaced bosses 71 extending normally forward therefrom, each boss 71 having a slot 73 therethrough thus dividing the boss into two halves. Tension plate 61 is additionally provided with four notches 75 spaced about the periphery of the tension plate generally adjacent two tabular portions 77 extending radially outwardly from opposite sides of the plate. When the button assembly 35 is disposed in the doll, one boss 79 is disposed in a position aligned with the head of the doll, and each tabular portion 77 is held for front to back movement between a pair of pins 81 which are integrally formed on the front torso half 27 of the doll and extend rearwardly therefrom. Thus, the cooperation of the tabular portions 77 with the pins 81 serves to maintain alignment of the movable tension plate 61 relative to the torso of the doll and prevents any twisting of the plate which could possibly entangle the strings of the doll. The tension plate 61 is additionally provided on its front face with four circumferential ridges 83 adjacent its circumference and spaced between the, notches 75. The outer diameter surrounding the ridges 83 is equivalent to the inner diameter of the annular wall of a cup shaped button cover 26 so that the cover can be seated on and be aligned by the ridges 83. A screw 85 passes through a center aperture 87 of the cover, engaging a threaded aperture 89 in the center of the tension plate 61. to secure the cover to the tension plate. Thus, the cover and the plate 61 combine to form the depressible button 25.

The functioning of the illustrated doll is achieved by the utilization of strings extending from limbs and the head to the depressible button. It is preferred that a control string pass through one opening adjacent a limb and be attached to a boss on the tension plate of the button. Another string passes through a second opening adjacent the limb and is affixed to another boss on the tension plate. The aforegoing can be achieved by the use of two separate strings for each limb. This would involve knotting or tying each end of a string, one end to the boss and-the other to the limb. However, it is preferred for ease of assembly, to use a separate continuous piece of string to secure each limb and a separate continuous piece for the head, with the ends of each string secured to each other and knotted at the limb and head. For example, turning to arm 17, a single In each limb and the head, there is disposed a combination insert and bearing element 93 shown in FIGS. 68. On one side the insert 93 has a rounded surface 95 having an enlarged outer diameter 97. The insert 93 also has a thin inner neck portion 99 and a base portion 101 having once again an enlarged diameter. Opposed notches 103 are formed 180 apart through the insert. The insert is secured to a limb by snapping the base portion 101 through an aperture 105 in the end of the limb so that the limb surrounds the narrow neck portion 99. The rounded bearing surface 95 is then adjacent the torso, allowing the limb-or head to move on the bearing surface. The notches 103 in the insert are aligned with the apertures in the torso at the arm, leg and head joints.

At the arm joints only, bosses 107 extending rearwardly from the torsos front half 27 are provided just below the apertures 43 and 45 respectively to allow the strings attaching the arms to curve thereover.

Briefly, when a single string 91 is used, a first control portion 92 thereof connects the arm 17 to the tension plate 61 of the button 25. Portion 92 passes through the upper aperture 43 and is secured to the boss 710 on the tension plate closest to the arm 17. Another portion 94 of the string 91 passes through the lower aperture 45 and is secured to the boss 7lb1on the tension plate closest to the opposite arm 19. When separate strings are used, portions 92 and 94 can each constitute an individual string. When 'a single string 91 is used, the following procedure is used for attachment of the arms.

Before the string 91 is attached to the insert93, the control portion 92 of the string 91 is directed through the upper aperture 43, to a hole 110 in the support plate 51 closest to the arm 17. The string 91 is then directed through an aligned notch 75a in the tension plate 61 and wrapped about and secured to one half of the boss 71a closest to the aperture 110. The string 91 is then directed (not shown) to the opposite boss 71b and wrapped thereabout and secured thereto. The portion 94 of the string is then passed through the adjacent notch 75b in the tension plate 61 and through a hole 1 1 l opposite hole 110 back to the lower aperture 45 in the torso adjacent the arm. The ends of the string 91 are secured to the insert 93 as will be explained. Then the insert is snapped into the arm.

FIGS. 9 A-C disclosed the technique of securing a single string to a boss. The string 91 is looped about one half of a boss 71 to secure it thereto in a rigid or immovable manner such that the string will not slide relative to the boss. Thus the control portion 92 of the string comes directly from the upper aperture 43 to the boss 71a. The portion of the string leaving the boss is directed to an opposing boss 71!: and secured relative thereto in a like manner, after which it extends from that boss as portion 94 to the lower aperture 45. As will be explained, two strings, one from each opposing limb, may be secured to each boss in the manner seen in FIG. 9D.

The portions 92 and 94 pass through the opposed notches 103 in the insert 93 for arm 17 and the ends of the string 91 are knotted at 122 as seen in FIG. 10, with the knot seated in the inner neck portion 99 of the insert. The string 91 is tensioned so that. there is slight compression on spring 67 to assure that the insert 93 and arm 17 to be affixed thereto is held tightly against the torso. The same aforegoing procedure may be repeated for attachment of the opposite arm 19 to the torso. Similarly, a single string 113 may be used to attach the head to the body. One portion 114 of the string 113 which passes through opening 39 in the top of the neck 38 is directed to aperture 111 in the support plate 51 while the other portion 116 passing through aperture 41 is directed to hole 110 in the support plate. Both portions of the string 113 are secured to the upper center boss 79 where the string is wrapped in the manner shown in FIG. 9.

The legs 21 and 23 are affixed to the torso in essentially the same manner as the arms. Looking at leg 21, it can be seen that one control portion 118 of a string 115 passes from an insert 93 in the leg 21 through a' hole 117 in the support plate 51 closest to the leg 21. The string 115 is then directed through a notch 750 in the tension plate 61 to a corresponding boss 71c and tied to one half thereof. The other portion 124 of the string 115 is directed through the lower aperture 49 in the torso and through the other lower hole 119 in the support plate. The string then extends through a notch 75d of the plate 61 to the boss 71d closest to the opening 119.

When fully assembled, as seen in FIG. 3 the strings apply essentially equal tension to the tension plate 61 so that the button 25 is flat relative to the dolls body, extending slightly from the front thereof (as seen in FIG. 2). The aforegoing pattern for attaching the strings can be appreciated when there is an understanding of the effect thereon by depression of certain points of the button 25. When the button (including the tension plate 61) are depressed at a spot adjacent hole 110, the tension in the control portion 92 of the string 91 directed through the upper aperture 43 to arm 17 is relaxed. In other words, the distance along the string between the part of the tension plate 61 to which the string 91 is attached and the upper portion of the arm 17 is shortened. This causes a relaxation of arm 17 so it will pivot downwardly toward the body. Likewise, when the button is depressed adjacent hole 1 1 1, arm 19 will relax. However, when arm 19 is relaxed there is no effect on arm 17 even though the second portion 94 of string 91 passing through the lower aperture 45 to arm 17 is relaxed, since the arm 17 is still held in its raised position by the tension on the control portion 92 of spring 91 passing through the upper aperture 43. It is for this reason that the control portion of the string passing through the uppermost aperture in the torso adjacent each limb is directed through the hole in the support plate closest to the limb and attached to a corresponding boss 71 on the tension plate adjacent that hole. It can thus be seen if the button is depressed between holes 110 and 117, arm 17 and leg 21 will be permitted to move downwardly. Thus, a given limb or a plurality of limbs can be caused to move in unison depending upon the point on the button that is depressed. It can further be appreciated that depression of button 25 (and tension plate 61) adjacent either of the upper holes 110 and 111 in the support plate, in addition to causing movement of corresponding arms, will relax the tension between the string 113 directed to the head 15 and the button, depending upon the side of the button depressed. This will cause movement of the head 15. The greatest relaxation of the head will be achieved if the button is depressed medially between the holes and 111, which will cause the greatest rearward movement of the boss 79 toward the support plate and will relax both portions of string 113 secured thereto.

Turning to FIG. 11 there is seen a schematic representation of the relationship of a button (including tension plate) and an associated fixed plate to achieve an opposite result from that previously described, namely, that the limbs will be normally relaxed and be caused to move outwardly or extend when the tension is placed on the strings. As schematically shown in FIG. 11, there is a button 124 having a tension plate 121 which can be of the same construction as the tension plate 61 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5. However, in this embodiment, bosses 123 affixed to the tension plate 121 extend rearwardly therefrom into or toward the middle of the doll torso. In other words the bosses 123, which can be of the same construction and the same number as that disclosed in the previous embodiment, face toward a fixed support plate 125 which is mounted in the same position in the dolls torso as the previously described plate 51. A spring 127 serves to separate the tension plate 121 from the fixed support plate 125. In this embodiment, the length of the bosses 123 is such that in a normal position at rest, they will extend at least partially through holes 129 provided in the support plate 125. FIG. 11 illustrates a control portion 131 of string from a limb (which may be connected to the limb in the same manner previously described) passing over the forward face of the fixed plate 125 and into an opening 129 where it is attached to the rearward end of a boss 123. The length of the string control portion 131 is such that in a rest position with a maximum distance between the tension plate 121 and support plate 125 the limbs are relaxed. In other words, there is no tension placed on the string portion 131. Upon depression of the tension plate 121 toward the fixed plate 125, it can be seen that the plate 125 restrains the string portion 131 as the boss pulls the string rearwardly through the hole 129. This serves to increase the distance, measured along the string, between the end of the boss 123 and the limb to which the opposite end of the string portion 131 is attached, thus placing tension on the string portion and causing concurrent movement of the limb. The other string portions may be similarly arranged.

FIG. 12 shows a similar embodiment to FIG. 11 wherein the same type of button 124 with tension plate 121 is utilized. However, in this embodiment separate apertures 133 are provided in the support plate 125 adjacent to and radially outward from the apertures 129 therein. In this embodiment the string portion 131 from a limb passes over the forward side of the plate 125 facing the tension plate 121, passes through an aperture 133, and is affixed to the end of the boss 123 extending rearwardly from the adjacent aperture 129. The embodiment of FIG. 12 achieves essentially the same results as that of FIG. 11 in the same manner as described. The embodiment of FIG. 12 avoids possible interference from the string passing through the aperture 129 in which the boss 123 must reciprocate.

Though the invention has been described with regard to use of a depressible button, the effect achieved is related to the movement of the tension plate relative to a fixed plate in the doll. Thus, for example, a button would not be required where the tension plate is secured to a flexible torso, such that depression of the torso adjacent the area of the tension plate would cause the desired effect.

We claim:

1. A doll having movable limbs comprising:

a torso,

a separate and selectively depressible plate means on said torso,

means for biasing said plate means outwardly from said torso, separate limbs including two arms and two legs adjacent said torso,

string means connecting all of said limbs to said plate means in a manner such that selective movement of said plate means can cause correspondent movement of all of said limbs or less than all of them,

and means for maintaining each limb in a fixed position relative to the torso when the limb is in a relaxed position,

whereby depression of said plate means causes actuation of said string means so as to selectively move said arms and legs.

2. The doll of claim 1 further including:

a separate head adjacent said torso,

and means connecting said head to said plate means.

3. The doll of claim 1 further comprising:

a support plate fixedly secured in said torso aligned with said depressible plate means,

said means for biasing said depressible plate means outwardly connected between said depressible plate means and said fixed plate.

4. The doll of claim 3 wherein said depressible plate means is provided with a plurality of means for affixing said string means thereto.

5. The doll of Claim 4 wherein:

said torso is provided with two spaced apart openings therethrough adjacent the point of attachment of said limbs.

6. The doll of claim 5 wherein:

the openings adjacent said limbs are arranged such that one upper opening is disposed toward the top of said doll and the other opening is disposed vertically downward on the torso from the upper openmg. 7. The doll of claim 6 wherein: said string means comprises each of a pair of string portions from each limb which passes through one string provides the string portions which pass through both openings adjacent a limb.

10. The doll of claim 8 wherein: there is one string affixing means on and movable plate means for each limb, said string affixing means being spatially disposed from each other on said movable plate,

said movable plate means being aligned in said doll such that one string affixing means is most closely aligned with each limb.

1 l. The doll of claim 10 wherein:

the string portion passing through the upper opening adjacent a limb is affixed to the affixing means of said movable plate means closest to said limb,

and the string portion passing through the lower opening adjacent that limb is affixed to another of the affixing means on said movable plate means.

12. The doll of claim 4 further including a separate doll head adjacent said torso and connected to one of said affixing means of said movable plate means.

13. The doll of claim 2 wherein said torso has an aperture and said movable plate means comprises a depressible button which extends through said aperture.

14. A doll comprising:

a generally enclosed torso, having an opening therethrough,

separate limbs disposed adjacent said torso,

a fixed plate disposed within said torso,

a movable plate disposed adjacent said fixed plate,

spring means separating said fixed plate from said movable plate,

a button secured to said movable plate, said button at least partially disposed in said opening in said torand string means connecting said limbs to said movable plate said fixed plate and said movable plate cooperating with said string to keep each limb in a fixed position relative to the torso when the limb is in a relaxed position whereby upon selective depression of said button corresponding selective movement of all of said limbs or less than all of them is achieved.

# i i i i 

1. A doll having movable limbs comprising: a torso, a separate and selectively depressible plate means on said torso, means for biasing said plate means outwardly from said torso, separate limbs including two arms and two legs adjacent said torso, string means connecting all of said limbs to said plate means in a manner such that selective movement of said plate means can cause correspondent movement of all of said limbs or less than all of them, and means for maintaining each limb in a fixed position relative to the torso when the limb is in a relaxed position, whereby depression of said plate means causes actuation of said string means so as to selectively move said arms and legs.
 2. The doll of claim 1 further including: a separate head adjacent said torso, and means connecting said head to said plate means.
 3. The doll of claim 1 further comprising: a support plate fixedly secured in said torso aligned with said depressible plate means, said means for biasing said depressible plate means outwardly connected between said depressible plate means and said fixed plate.
 4. The doll of claim 3 wherein said depressible plate means is provided with a plurality of means for affixing said string means thereto.
 5. The doll of Claim 4 wherein: said torso is provided with two spaced apart openings therethrough adjacent the point of attachment of said limbs.
 6. The doll of claim 5 wherein: the openings adjacent said limbs are arranged such that one upper opening is disposed toward the top of said doll and the other opening is disposed vertically downward on the torso from the upper opening.
 7. The doll of claim 6 wherein: said string means comprises each of a pair of string portions from each limb which passes through one of said openings adjacent that limb.
 8. The doll of claim 7 wherein: the string portion passing through one opening adjacent a limb is secured to one of said affixing means on said depressible plate means, and the string portion passing through the other opening adjacent the same limb is secured to another of said plurality of affixing means on said depressible plate means.
 9. The doll of claim 8 wherein the sAme piece of string provides the string portions which pass through both openings adjacent a limb.
 10. The doll of claim 8 wherein: there is one string affixing means on said movable plate means for each limb, said string affixing means being spatially disposed from each other on said movable plate, said movable plate means being aligned in said doll such that one string affixing means is most closely aligned with each limb.
 11. The doll of claim 10 wherein: the string portion passing through the upper opening adjacent a limb is affixed to the affixing means of said movable plate means closest to said limb, and the string portion passing through the lower opening adjacent that limb is affixed to another of the affixing means on said movable plate means.
 12. The doll of claim 4 further including a separate doll head adjacent said torso and connected to one of said affixing means of said movable plate means.
 13. The doll of claim 2 wherein said torso has an aperture and said movable plate means comprises a depressible button which extends through said aperture.
 14. A doll comprising: a generally enclosed torso, having an opening therethrough, separate limbs disposed adjacent said torso, a fixed plate disposed within said torso, a movable plate disposed adjacent said fixed plate, spring means separating said fixed plate from said movable plate, a button secured to said movable plate, said button at least partially disposed in said opening in said torso, and string means connecting said limbs to said movable plate said fixed plate and said movable plate cooperating with said string to keep each limb in a fixed position relative to the torso when the limb is in a relaxed position whereby upon selective depression of said button corresponding selective movement of all of said limbs or less than all of them is achieved. 